Great question (and thanks for watching)! I actually wrote about this in my book The New Sex Bible
You’ve probably heard a great deal about the clitoris and you likely already know that it exists solely for the purpose of pleasure. But did you know that the clitoris has legs? And that the complex structure of the clitoris may explain why most women orgasm from rubbing, grinding and pressing on the vulva?
The clitoris is more than just a tiny nodule at the top of where the labia meet. That shiny pearl-like structure, which is often referred to as the clitoris is actually only the head of the clitoris. It also has two legs, two bulbs, foreskin, glands, nerves, blood vessels, a shaft and the capacity to become erect. Once you study the full anatomy of the clitoral complex, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the clitoris is much like a penis...only smaller. But when you examine the deep roots and multiple parts of the inner clitoris, it becomes more obvious that the clitoris isn’t a smaller version of the penis, but simply a variant model.
The clitoris is not only homologous to the penis in its comparable origin and structure, but both the clitoris and the penis are derived from the same same tissue in utero. An examination of the clitoris’ eighteen parts and their function reveals further shared attributes between the male and female sex organs:
The glans is the head of the clitoris which protrudes from beneath the hood to varying degrees depending on a woman’s unique make-up and her arousal levels. We often mistake this pea-sized bump for the entire clitoris and because it can be highly sensitive to touch, it is protected by the clitoral hood (or foreskin).The shaft is attached to the clitoral glans and composed of erectile tissue and cavernous bodies that fill with blood just like the penis. That’s right. Women get boners too!
The clitoral legs and bulbs are part of the inner clitoris and the legs can extend up to 3 inches. They point toward the thighs when relaxed and then stretch backward during arousal allowing the clitoris to double in size as becomes engorged with blood. The bulbs or vesitbules of the clitoris underlie the labia and also swell with excitement. As they expand, they cause the vulva to swell outward and create a tight sensation around the outer third of the vagina, which early sex researchers Masters and Johnson named the orgasmic platform.
It is not uncommon for a woman to have trouble visually locating her clitoris, as it is not a body part that most of us learn about from a young age. We may discover its pleasure capacity by accident, but few girls are actually taught about its name, location and function as part of their regular growing up routine. If you haven’t had a chance to look at your clitoris, there is no time like the present! After a relaxing shower or bath, sit on your bum with your knees bent, legs spread and feet flat on the bed. Use a hand mirror to take a look at your entire vulva and press your fingers gently into your lips to become familiar with the area. Pull up gently on the skin at the top of your inner labia (just below your public mound) to reveal your sensitive clitoral glans. It is usually round and a bit shiny and protrudes from beneath the hood/foreskin. Every woman’s body is different so don’t worry if yours pokes out conspicuously or only extends slightly from beneath its hood.”